Judge Denies Lawsuit

Carroll capsule

WESTMINSTER — A $200 lawsuit for auto damages against the city by David H. May, 71, was denied in Carroll County District Court Monday.

Judge JoAnn Ellinghaus-Jones denied the lawsuit, saying the claim had no merit since the accident involved contributory negligence by May.

May asked the city to pay for damage done to his 1971 Cadillac onNov. 23 while he was backing out of a parking space in Gilbert Garage on East Main Street in Westminster.

While pulling out of the space, May's car struck a wall buttress, damaging its rear tail light and bumper.

The judge said since the buttress was visible to motorists entering the garage, May's claim that the space shouldn't be used because drivers can't make a proper turn has no merit.

City officials denied the claim, saying there was nothing wrong with the space.

INJURED WOMAN HELPED

HAMPSTEAD -- The friend of a woman criticallyinjured in an automobile accident last week has established a trust fund to help with medical expenses incurred by Michelle "Shellie" Voelker.

Voelker suffered head, leg and internal injuries after her car crossed the center line on Hampstead-Mexico Road and struck a van head-on. Her 2-year-old son, Noah, also suffered minor injuries.

Sue Burton said she has established the Shellie Voelker Fund at Union National Bank to help with the family's expenses.

Voelker is in intensive care at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.

REZONING EXAMINED

Three Eldersburg residents opposed a request to rezone 6.3 acres to general business use on the north side of Liberty Road in Eldersburg at a hearing before the county commissioners Thursday.

The land, part of a 37-acre tract opposite Monroe Avenue between Oklahoma Road and Locust Lane, currently is zoned for a combination of residential and local business development. The general business zone allows a wider variety of commercial establishments that could be more intensive than those permitted in the local business zone.

Oklahoma subdivision resident Philip Deitchman expressed concern that increasing business development in the area could produce morehigh-speed traffic, once Monroe Avenue is extended to connect with Liberty Road. The traffic could be a hazard to Oklahoma subdivision children, who play in the area, he said.

"It's going to be a major problem for residents once Monroe goes through," he said. "We don't want to see any children getting killed."

To improve safety, the County Bureau of Roads Operations has suggested erecting a sign at the intersection of Monroe Avenue and the entrance to the business district prohibiting truck traffic from traveling through existing or proposed residential areas. The sign would be posted when Monroe Avenue is extended.

Deitchman urged the commissioners to evaluate a traffic study before making a decision on the rezoning. Richard Hull, a partner with Monroe Partnership, the developer, said a traffic study is being prepared for the planning office.

Hull said it has not been determined what types of businesses would locate in the district. The partnership plans to create lots of about one-acre each and sell them,he said.

He said it would be "undesirable" to build homes on the property, which borders a business district and a flood plain.

An attorney for Monroe Partnership said a mistake was made in the original zoning in 1977. He also cited another similar rezoning petition for an adjacent property, which was granted in 1985, as a basis for approving the request.

The property is undeveloped.

The county Planning and Zoning Commission recommended granting the rezoning, citingchanges in the neighborhood since adoption of the 1977 Freedom Area plan. Wetlands designation has changed and the alignment of Monroe Avenue extended has been altered since 1977, the commission wrote.

GRADGOALS DISCUSSED

The Carroll Board of Education and its staff oppose state high school graduation proposals that would require studentsto take additional credits in math and social studies and 75 hours of community service.

The board and staff discussed the state Boardof Education proposals, aimed at meeting the goals of Maryland's reform program, after a presentation by Peter B. McDowell, Carroll's director of secondary schools.

The state board has proposed new graduation requirements for ninth-graders entering high school in fall 1993. The board plan would boost math and social studies credits from three to four and overall credits from 20 to 21.

McDowell said the school staff is opposed to raising math credits because of the negative impact it would have on special education and career and technologystudents, who have other demands on their schedules.

In recommending the additional math credit, the state has said some students graduate with minimum math proficiency and without learning algebra.